Archive for September, 2012

I normally prefer to spread things out more these days, but when it rains, it pours. Three great friends have just passed on some incredible coldwave tapes that I’m just itching to share, so the next three posts will feature their generous donations. First up, Stéphane has donated a rip of the two previously unshared Mémoires d’Automne tapes, 1993′s Gloria Victis and 1995′s self-titled cassette. I’ve also included a series of compilation-only tracks, including some alternate and live versions of the tracks that appear here. These tracks originally appeared across the Exterieur Nuit, L’Appel De La Muse (volume 5), and Looking For a Life to Lose compilations, and should complete the discography. 1996′s Cliché cassette will not be included here, partially because it has been uploaded elsewhere. More importantly, a vinyl reissue of this seminal tape will be released in just a few weeks on Meidosem Records. Click here for a preview and some pre-order details.

For those unfamiliar, Mémoires d’Automne were a three piece band from France, active in the 1990s and continuing the French/Belgian style of guitar-driven, melancholic post-punk. Of course, any regular here should be well versed in this sound by now, but for any newcomers, this is highly recommended for fans of Nuit D’Octobre, Sombre Septembre, Odessa, Asylum Party, Lucie Cries, Formes Nouvelles, and more well known bands like And Also the Trees & early Cure.

You can also find an alternate version of ‘Autumn Day’ (titled ‘Time of the End’) on 2007′s Ruines & Vanités compilation, which is still available to order online. Thanks to Sorrow Vomit from Kentucky Fried Wave for donating the v/a tracks and again to Stéphane for the cassette rips!

In general, I’ve always found Breathless to be one of the most underrated bands in the post-punk/dreampop spectrum. While many are familiar with Dominic Appleton’s voice via This Mortal Coil’s sophomore release Filigree and Shadow (and one track on Blood), few I talk to seem familiar with his own band, which existed beforehand and still exists today (new album in the works). It’s a shame, as the majority of their material is among the best I’ve ever heard. Predating My Bloody Valentine’s stylistic shift by a few years, there are sounds at play that would soon become shoegaze staples. Tremendous layered guitars. Dream-like atmosphere and epic swells. Rhythmic bass. Appleton’s singular vocals. Throw in John Fryer’s always amazing production (especially on the killer drumming) and you have something truly special.

While a good majority of the band’s material has been reissued or compiled, it seems like this 12” has fallen by the wayside, outside of two tracks which appear elsewhere on full length records. I haven’t seen it blogged before (though I could be wrong), and most rips I’ve come across are lacking in bitrate or depth. So, with that in mind, here’s a crystal-clear rip of this fantastic 12” from 1986. Every track here is perfection, and the opening song “Bad Blood” (an exclusive to this 12”) may just be a contender for my favorite song of all time.

You can easily find this 12” for sale for rather cheap, proof that sometimes the best records are often very affordable. No post-punk collection should be without this record.

Coldwave fans rejoice! Here we have an incredibly rare and generous donation of the first Résistance release, an extremely limited K7 from 1985- only 200 copies which are known to exist.

The tape predates Between Two Lights by a year and features an exclusive set of recordings. A few of the songs would go on to appear elsewhere- “On Your Body/Clinch” was re-recorded for the excellent Passage Du Trou Marin K7, and both ”Out of the Body” and “Chain” appear as part of a live set on the Between Two Lights reissue on Infrastiton. The CD reissue of 8 also features the Passage tracks as well as “Decline”- recorded as an appendage to both but which appears here separately. It seems like they enjoyed revisiting these songs a few times over the years, fleshing them out from their earlier counterparts with heavier percussive sounds and bells. There’s a fair share of exclusive tracks here too, so hope you enjoy!

Here’s another entry from The Trial, the excellent Czechoslovakian synth band previously covered here and here. This 7” completes their vinyl discography, and was released in 1992 to coincide with the band’s upcoming tour. The a-side is very percussion-driven and the second features a fuller synth arrangement that almost borderlines on freestyle/new beat- but both tracks are very welcome additions to their discography.

Speaking of which, the band issued a free download of an entire LP’s worth of demo recordings from 1989/1990. Really great stuff, as always. You can grab that by clicking here.

About

Systems of Romance was created in mid-2007 to serve as a dumping grounds for all great things coldwave, minimal synth, post-punk, synthpunk, industrial, synthpop, and various other combinations of these styles. Feel free to make requests, noodle around, and discuss all you like...

Otherwise, this blog is dedicated to showcasing material that has long since been out of print. If you are aware of any of these items being readily available from the artist or label, or take issue with these tracks being uploaded, please let me know so I can amend the post or remove the links.